Turkmenistan transit visa
 

hi guys

Working out visa arrangements for a upcoming trip through the stans, does anyone know how far in advance you can apply for a Turkmenistan transit visa and if l can send a postal application to the London embassy. l,ve tried emailing and calling them without much luck.

I don't know how far in advance you can apply, but I've just received my transit visa, valid for travel in May. Took 6 working days, needed visas of country before and after to prove you're only travelling through. Cost 50 euros. According to their website they accept postal applications (Embassy of Turkmenistan in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Consular section).

David

cheers, could,nt find that page on the site.

Letter of Invitation
 

David L -

Congratulations on getting your transit visa. Did you have a Letter of Invitation, and if so, who issued it? I contacted David from Stantours a while ago and he said that they could not issue the letter. Doesn't seem to make sense that one would need one for a transit visa, but that sure enough, it was required.

Truth or fiction? Letter required or not?

Konfused in Kamloops

Thanks

You don't need an LOI for a transit visa, BUT you do need to have visas for the country you'll be entering from and exiting into...BEFORE you apply for your Turkmen transit visa.

Also, those days are fixed and can only be changed once you're in Ashgabat at their OVIR office...near the US embassy.

HTH

Hi Sam

For a UK citizen, applying in London, you don't need a LOI for a transit visa, just the visas of the countries you are travelling through before and after.
The rules may be different if applying at embassies in other countries?

David

Turkmen transit visa
 

OK... good. That makes sense. Is it possible to obtain one in Baku, or would you recommend trying to get one in Istanbul? I may be able to stay with friends in Istanbul easier than staying in Baku, but the entry date would be more firm if applying in Baku.

Thanks for the info.

Could be wrong but AFAIK there is no TM embassy in baku, so no way to get a visa there.

Turkmenistan Consulate in Istanbul...is one option...it will take about 7 days to process your request.

I don't think there is a Turkmen consulate in Baku.

What is your route? This would help in giving you a better answer to your queries.

Planned route
 

There seems to be a consulate in Baku (at least one is listed on the US Turkmen Embassy website) Contacts Directory
and I seem to remember reading somewhere here that it is down by the ferry terminal. Not sure where I got that info.

Anyway, I'm planning on heading out May 1, eastward across NA, then to Europe, getting to Istanbul late June. Will probably spend some time in Istanbul getting visas. Then Georgia, Azerbaijan and ferry to Turkmenistan. Tour through the 'stans then to Mongolia early August. Out at Vladivostok early September. Anchorage by mid-September, back home in BC by the end of September.

I've heard from others that Istanbul is not such a bad place to sort out visas as long as you can stay there for a bit. Probably ready for a break by then anyway and gives a chance to get any bike problems squared away before heading off. Oh well, at least it seems like a plan.

Wow...thats a TIGHT timeline...

AND call the Turkmen consulate in Baku before you arrive...i don't remember seeing one there in 2007.

Timeline
 

Yeah... I'm quite concerned about that as well. I've always known I would take the time to reassess in Istanbul and might wind up seriously changing the whole plan at that point. RTW is not the goal... just a framework for 5-6 months of solo travel to some fascinating places.

Thanks for your input. Actually thanks for all the great input you have made to these forums. I've always found your contributions most helpful.

Personally, I would consider skipping Europe and shipping directly to Istanbul from the US.

Riding through Europe will be VERY expensive and may cause you to make compromises/sacrifices during the latter sections of your trip.
Furthermore, for future travel purposes, Europe is and easy/cheap destination to arrive to...whereas the other bits of your itenary are not...even discounting the political instability factor.

Spend your time and $$s in countries that could use the tourist income...consider it a charitable donation of sorts;)